Lock



July4,1944. 1 R G. NQBLE 2,352,967

LOCK

Filed March 12, 1945 IMM Patented July 4, 1944 UNITED "STATES mmm OFFICE Roberto. Noble, nl. y Appiicanon Marca 12, 194asenarNm.478,955

2 claims. Iltot.rtlzaz) This invention relates to improvements in locks and more particularly to locks for vehicle Wheels such as automobile Wheels, etc. although capable of other uses. One 4object is to provide a lock applicable for use on one of the wheel retaining bolts, studs or nuts for locking the same securely to the Wheel thus effectually preventing removal of the wheel from the vehicle axle.

A further object is to provide a lock. adapted for application to the bolt, stud er nut without alteration or weakening of the same in any way;

A still further object isA to provide a Wheel lock that is readily and interchangeably applicable to the various types of Wheels of the clifferent makes of" automobiles so that it may be used-selectively upon one or any of them.

A further object is to provide a lock of simple construction' that is durable in use, inexpensive to manufacture, readily applied and as Vreadily removed by authorized persons and that in use is entirely eilicient, tamper-proof, pry-proof and secure againstthe eiorts of unauthorized persons.

A further object is to provide a lock, key operated, adapted to be manufactured in sets, the locks of a set being capable of operation by a common key; the locks of different sets being operated only by different keys.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter fully described, pointed out in the claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this patent and in Which- Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of a Vehicle wheel illustrating the application of the lock.

Fig. 2 is a face view of Fig. 3 in elevation with the Wheel omitted.

Fig. 3 is a View through Fig. 2 in horizontal cross section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a View of the lock in elevation taken from the open side of the cap or casing.

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross sectional View through Fig. 3 on the line 5-5.

Fig. 6 is a. longitudinal central Vertical sectional vieW through the lock With the cap or casing and the lock bolts detached from and about to be applied to the yoke assembly which is shown applied to the wheel and one nut thereof, theview being taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a view in perspective of the yoke assembly.

Fig. 8 is a View of the key in perspective.

\ Like reference-,characters denote corresponding parts ltlirougl'tout'the several views. y

The reference numeral I1 denotes an automobile wheel provided with'tl'le` usual Wheel retainingstudsor-bolts Zfhavingr taperedl nuts or heads 3f --IlfreY present lock is adapted for application toanyj'o'ne 'of thev nuts'l` in such manner Las to prventhitsremoval from its bolt or ofthe latter froinfthe wheel?. The lock includes a two-piece yoke adapted for direct application to the nut onlieadl certain types of vehicles the stud tJivllaliits 'head isfremoved when it is desiredto rrhjovefthef-Wheel' whileA in another types the stud 2 remains Yin thewheel while the nut 3 is ren-loved.V In either case the annular band vpor-'- tion 4- of the yoke is applied direct to the beveled inner end oi" the nut or head y3, said handhaving 'an outer'` periphery 5' formed ,with diametri- 'cal'lyppposed" similar notches 6; 6' and with* a tapered neck portion 'I conforming'to the-con-Y tour of the inner taperede-nd of thefhead or nut to be received therein, said neckterrninat'- ing in the periphery dening the bandperforation and being spaced laterally from the outer periphery 5. Removably received in the notches 6 of said band are the resilient prongs 8, 8 diametrically opposed, two in number, and extending from the annular base 9 of the fork l0, said prongs terminating in the flanges II that extend beyond the end walls of notches 6 to prevent withdrawal therefrom in one direction of said prongs.

The prongs 8, 8 receive therebetween the nut or head 3, the inner diameter of said base 9 being less than the diameter of the nut or head 3 at its larger end. A lock cap or casing I3 round in cross section and having one closed end I4 in which is formed a key hole I5 is provided, said casing having an inside diameter slightly greater than the outside diameter of the base 9 or band 4 so that said members may be snugly received therein. Also received within said lock casing upon the base or closed end thereof is the lock bolt housing substantially square in cross section having the inverted base I6 formed with the perforation I6a in line with the casing perforation I5, side walls I1, I1 each having a perforation I8 therein, said perforations being diagonally opposite each other contiguous to said inverted base I6, and side Walls I9, I9, the free ends of said Walls being bent outwardly to form flat Wings 20, 20 curved peripherally to the contour of the casing wall, said wings being disposed upon the inner face of the closed end of casing I3 and preferably spot-welded or otherwise secured thereto. The free ends of the side walls I1, II are bent inwardly toward each other and are spaced apart in line with the perforations I5, I6a, said wall ends cooperating with the inverted base I6, as well as with said side walls to operatively retain the opposed cooperating L- shaped lock bolts 2I, 22 each of which extends out from the housing through one perforation I8 in a wall I'I, each lock bolt being engaged by a spring Ik23 interposed between it and a housing wall I1 to yieldingly retain said bolts in ex? tended or operative position.

'I'he diameter of the bolt casing is such that. it is received snugly within the base 9 of the fork I0, the perforations I8 in housing walls II then being upon one side of said base while the wings 20, are upon the opposite side thereof secured to the casing wall I4. The bolt locks 2|, 22 are so shaped relatively that their inner ends Within the housing are at all times spaced apart in line with theperforations I5, I6a to provide clearance for the key 24 adapted for insertion in said-perforations between the spaced inner ends of walls I1, I1 and lock bolts 2|, 22. 1

-The key may now be turned to retract the lock bolts to positions wholly withinv their housing. To apply the lock the head 3 with or without the bolt or stud 2 is removed and the band 4 applied to the inner beveled end of said nut or head which is then replaced in the wheel. 'I'he fork IQis now placed about the nut or head with its prongs engaging the notched periphery of said head. The lock casingis nowV applied upon said fork, the key 24 being inserted and the lock bolts retracted until the perforations I8 pass beyond the base 9 in the direction of the said band.- T he key I8 is now withdrawn whereupon the springs 23 will force outwardly the remote ends of the lock bolts to interfere withl said base 9 should removal of the casing I3 be attempted. The wheel stud and nut or head are now effectually locked against withdrawal, tampering or prying bypersons not provided with the proper key. This lock is centered upon the stud, bolt or nut so that its weight, though very slight, is evenly distributed thereabout and so will not tend to throw the wheel olf balance when it is rotating at high speed.

Manifestly numerous changes and modifications in the details of the embodiments of the invention disclosed will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is intended that all such changes and modifications be comprehended within theV scope of the invention which is to be limited only by the claims appended hereto.

1 What is claimed is:

' l. In a lock for beveled nuts, an annular band having a tapered neck shaped to the contour of said nut, said band being notched peripherally, a

fork having anged prongs for engagement with the notches of said band, a lock casing having a keyhole, a bolt housing secured in said lock casing and formed with a keyhole in line with said casing keyhole, said bolt housing having wall perforations, andl lock bolts in said housing yieldingly protruding through said wall perforations and engaging said fork, said lock bolts being adapted for engagement by a key inserted in said casing and lock housing.

2. In a lock for beveled nuts, an annular band having a tapered neckshaped to engage said nut, said band being notched peripherally, a fork having flanged prongs for engagement with the notches of said band, the base of said fork being annular, a lock casing having a keyhole, a bolt housing secured in said lock casing and formed with a keyhole in line with said casing keyhole and being of a'diameter less then the inner diameter of said fork base, said bolt housing having Wall perforations, and lock bolts in said housing yieldingly protruding through said wall perforations for engagement with said fork base, said lock bolts being adapted for engagement by a key inserted in said casing and lock housing.

ROBERT G. NOBLE. 

